President's Council sponsoring trip to see Purdue marching band's return to Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade

Purdue's "All-American" Marching Band forms the Block P at Kilkenny Castle during the band's March 2013 visit to Ireland. (Photo by Scott Sermersheim)
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The Emerald Isle will ring with the sounds of the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band as it makes an encore trip to Ireland with fans, family and friends in tow to participate in Dublin's 2018 St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17.

The Purdue President’s Council, in partnership with Purdue Bands & Orchestras, is sponsoring a concurrent Ireland trip from March 11-18 that is open to all Purdue alumni, staff, parents and friends. Participation in the sponsored trip supports “Ever True: The Campaign for Purdue University,” and the package cost includes a $500 donation to support Purdue Bands & Orchestra students on this trip. The travel-package cost also includes tickets for grandstand seats along the St. Patrick’s Day Parade route to better see and hear the band as it marches by.

The deadline to sign up is Dec. 8.

Band students and the Purdue supporters will travel separately for a week of sightseeing but will meet for an opening reception and dinner in the Grand Ballroom of Adare Manor on March 12 in Shannon, Ireland. They also will meet up for three band performances:

* March 13 (Tu) in Galway at Eyre Square.

* March 15 (Th) in the courtyard of Kilkenny Castle.

* March 17 (Sa): Travelers with the President’s Council trip will have grandstand seats near St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin to watch as the band marches and plays on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland’s most celebrated parade.

This is the second trip the band has made to Ireland, coming four years after the "All-American" Marching Band performed as the final unit in the 2013 St. Patrick's Day Parade.

“The band’s performance was incredibly well-received by those in attendance, the parade commentators and the national television audience,” says Jay Gephart, the band's director. “It was a life-changing experience for our students and a mutually rewarding learning experience for our students and our Irish hosts. We are incredibly humbled to perform once again in one of the world's great parades and represent Purdue, our state and nation in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.”